NERCE Core C: Small Molecule Screening and Medicinal Chemistry Core, Stephen Lory, Ph.D.,Harvard Medical School.High-throughput screening (HTS) of libraries with large numbers of small molecules is a widely recognizedand increasingly used method for identifying compounds that modulate biological processes. Compoundsthus identified can be powerful molecular probes for dissecting complex biological pathways, and may alsobe potential leads for clinical use. In the context of biodefense and emerging infectious disease, smallmolecule HTS could lead to the discovery of new classes of antimicrobial agents or novel stimulators ofinnate or adaptive immunity, and also identify and validate novel targets for subsequent drug discoveryefforts.The National Small Molecule Screening Laboratory for the RCEs in Biodefense and Emerging InfectiousDisease (NSRB) was established in 2003 to provide access to small molecule high-throughput screening(HTS) and medicinal chemistry resources for all U.S. investigators conducting research on NIAID PriorityPathogens. It has been a highly successful program and several NSRB projects have produced reagentsthat are progressing toward possible therapeutic development.The NERCE National Small Molecule Screening and Medicinal Chemistry Core (Core C) propsed here is acontinuation of the NSRB. The main goals for Core C are to:Provide access to small-molecule HTS for all U.S. investigators with projects focused on NIAID PriorityPathogens and agents of Emerging Infectious Diseases, and toProvide data analysis and medicinal chemistry resources for maturation of screening positives into smallmoleculeresearch tools or into potential novel therapeutic leads.
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